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Bernard Watts
Bernard W. Watts, 91, of Bryson City, died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at Autumn Wind Nursing Home in Bryson City following a period of declining health.
Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lou Crowe
Louwana Jo “Lou” West Crowe, 72, of Cherokee, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Yellowhill Baptist Church with the Revs. Red Bradley, Roland Whittaker, John West and Greg Morgan officiating.
Pallbearers were her sons and grandsons.
An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, she was born in Jay, Okla., but lived most of her life in Cherokee. She was a member, choir director, vacation Bible school director and youth group teacher at Yellowhill Baptist Church. She served as a clerk for the Cherokee Indian Baptist Association and was a member of the association’s Women’s Auxiliary.
She and her husband were foster parents and cared for many children on the Qualla Boundary. She was also a substitute child care worker at the White Path Center, formerly known as Cherokee Children’s Home. She was a member of Cherokee Action Committee for Children and N.C. Foster Parents Association. She served as president of the National Foster Parents Association and was part of the formulation and passage of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act. She was a kindergarten teacher’s aide at Cherokee Elementary School for many years and a teacher’s aide at Cherokee High School. She also worked as a census taker for Duke University Smoky Mountains Study and the University of Chicago NORC. She and her husband were named Asheville Citizen-Times Citizens of the Year in 1976 and she was a recipient of the Frell Owl Award. She was a daughter of the late James and Ella Miller West.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Bill Moody and Jimmy West; and one daughter, Geneva Walkingstick.
Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Charles “Scar” Crowe; two daughters, Joletta Crowe and Missy Crowe, both of Cherokee; five sons, Robert Crowe, Chuck Crowe, Danny Crowe, Moses Walkingstick and Owen Walkingstick, all of Cherokee; 24 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Darlene Rathbone
Darlene Turpin Rathbone, 56, of Artic Lane, Sylva, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home with the Rev. Alan Greene officiating. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers were Jacob, David, Larry, Kevin, Charlie and James Rathbone.
A native of Swain County, she had lived in Jackson County since 1975. She was an LPN at Skyland Care Center until her health failed and a member of New Hope Church of God.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Edward “Dagwood” Turpin.
Surviving are her husband of 39 years, Harold “Sid” Rathbone; one daughter, Lisa Rathbone Small of Ahoskie; one son, Kevin Rathbone of Sylva; two sisters, Ann Banks and Louise Nations, both of Sylva; four brothers, Jackie Turpin of Charlotte, Charles Turpin of Sylva and Jimmy Turpin and Lyle Turpin, both of Hickory; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Mabel Wise
Mabel Elizabeth Blankenship Wise, of Candler, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home in Asheville with the Revs. John Erwin and Ed Worley officiating. Graveside services were held at Laurel Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Glenn, Geoffrey, Jonathan and Shane Wise, Herman Redmon and grand-godson, Phillip Morgan.
Honorary pallbearers were the quilting group of Brown’s View United Methodist Church and the Classy Lassies breakfast group.
A native of Swain County, she was a daughter of the late Eli and Kate Gass Blankenship.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Carroll Wise; two brothers, James and Horace Blankenship; and one sister, Mildred Brooks.
Surviving are two sons, Bob and Gary; five daughters, Sondra, Annette, Carolyn, Beth and Dawn; one sister, Evelyn Blankenship; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to CarePartners Mountain Area Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
An online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.grocefuneralhome.com.
Mary Squirrel
Mary Squirrel, 57, of Cherokee’s Yellowhill community, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, in a Buncombe County hospital.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Yellowhill Baptist Church, of which she was a member, with the Revs. James “Red” Bradley and Roland Whitaker officiating. Burial was in Yellowhill Cemetery.
A native of Swain County, she was an employee for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, working at Cherokee Indian Hospital. She was a daughter of the late Shepherd and Mianna Screamer Squirrel.
Surviving are one son, Shawn Martin of Cherokee; one sister, Irene Martin of Cherokee; and four brothers, Robert Squirrell of Maggie Valley, and Joshua Squirrel, John Adam Squirrell and George Squirrel, all of Cherokee.
Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Smith
Sarah Clayton Edwards Smith, 92, of Maryville, Tenn., died Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005, at her home.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. today (Thursday, Nov. 10) in the chapel of McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Horn officiating. The family was scheduled to receive friends for an hour and a half prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Mt. Olive Cemetery.
She was a longtime member of Maryville First United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, William W. Edwards, Roy A. Smith; and six siblings.
Surviving are one daughter, Brenda Edwards Thomas of Maryville; one son, William C. “Chipper” Edwards of Maryville; two brothers, James Clayton of San Francisco, Calif., and Max Clayton of Roswell, Ga; three sisters, Mary Clayton Queen of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Helen Clayton Keisler of Saluda, S.C., and Anna Laurie Clayton Freeman of Chapel Hill; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Blount Memorial Hospice, 1095 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804.
Barbara Holder
Barbara Arrington Holder, 61, of Balsam, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, at Harris Regional Hospital.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the chapel of Garrett Funeral Home in Waynesville with the Rev. Johnny Swanger officiating. Burial was in Balsam Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Johnny Jones, James Jeuck, Jonathan Jeuck, Gil Carver, Gerald Conner, Gordon Pike and Michael Arrington.
Honorary pallbearers were Gerald Conner, Chad Jones, Benjamin Jeuck, Jeff Arrington, Steven Arrington, Rusty Conner and Scott Conner.
She was born April 20, 1944, in Haywood County, and worked for the Haywood County School System as a librarian for 27 years at Waynesville Middle School. She was a daughter of Ruby Mehaffey Arrington of Balsam and the late Frank R. Arrington.
In addition to her father, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Holder, who died in 1978; and one son, Jonathan Daniel Holder.
Surviving in addition to her mother are one daughter, Regina Holder of Balsam; and one brother, Harold Arrington of Saluda, S.C.
An online guest registry is available at www.legacy.com.
Mildred Smith
 Mildred Lou Kelly Smith, 90, of Sylva, formerly of Greer, S.C., died Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Memorial United Methodist Church in Greer. Burial was in Wood Memorial Park.
Born in White House, Tenn., on April 1, 1915, she attended George Peabody College, (now George Peabody College of Vanderbilt) where she was selected Miss Peabody in both 1936 and 1937. She received her B.S. degree at Peabody in 1937. She taught in elementary schools for 29 years, and in her 50s began pursuing graduate course work in library science. She did course work at Furman, Winthrop and Columbia universities, and Wofford and Converse colleges, as well as the University of South Carolina. She served as a librarian and media specialist for 15 years in Greenville County Schools, retiring at 67 from her last position at Woodland Elementary School in 1981.
After retiring she served as a volunteer literacy tutor for adults from 1979 until 2000. For this work, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Literacy Action of Greer for over 1,000 hours of tutoring. She was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church for 56 years, and was a member of the Eula Mayfield Sunday School Class and the Afternoon Circle. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers’ Sorority, and a lifelong member of the Camellia Garden Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents; eight siblings and by her husband, former mayor of Greer from 1979-1988, Donald Newton Smith.
Surviving are three daughters, Daphne S. Reider of Atlanta, Ga., Marsha Smith Crites of Sylva and Denise Smith Cline of Raleigh; two sons, D. Newton Smith Jr. of Tuckasegee and Mark S. Smith of Wilton Manor, Fla.; one sister, Sarah K. Shafer of Gallatin, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Literacy Action of Greer, 505 N. Main St., Greer, S.C. 29650; WestCare Hospice, 132 Sylva Plaza, Sylva, NC 28779; Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 N. Main St., Greer, SC 29650; or the charity of one’s choice.
Ted Broom
Ted W. Broom, 52, of Caney Fork community, died unexpectedly Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, at his residence.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home with the Revs. Michael Queen and Eddie Stillwell officiating. Burial was in Balsam Grove Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Kenny Wood, Harold Parris, Brian Gentry, Glen Deitz, Lewis Moss and Johnny Jones.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a heavy equipment operator for Wright Brothers Construction and enjoyed hunting. He was a son of the late Dewey L. and Mattie Queen Broom.
Surviving are his wife of 35 years, Elizabeth Taylor Broom; one daughter, Cindy B. Harris of Cullowhee; three sons, Chris Broom of Cashiers, and Steve Broom and Greg Broom, both of Cullowhee; six sisters; two brothers; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 605, Sylva, NC 28779; or Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad, Norton Road, Glenville, NC 28736.
Bonnie Buchanan
Bonnie Isabelle Reece Buchanan, 87, of Clay Haven Heights, Sylva, died Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, at Tsali Care Center after an extended illness.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at East Fork Baptist Church with the Revs. David Souderes, Eddie Stillwell and John Bates officiating. Burial was in East Fork Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Michael King, Mark Wood, Ricky King, Jamie Melton, Travis Smith and Don Biggs.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she enjoyed quilting, gardening and canning. She was a member of Old Savannah Baptist Church and had worked at the old Jackson County Home as a caregiver. She was a daughter of the late John Wesley and Leva Alexander Reece.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Buchanan, who died in 1990; an infant daughter, Shelby Jean Buchanan; and nine brothers and sisters.
Surviving are three daughters, Birdene B. Owen of Whittier, and Leva Mae King and Margie Smith, both of Sylva; three sisters, Mattie Hoxit and Della Harris, both of Rosman, and Ellen Reece of Sylva; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Frederick Dunn
 Frederick Dunn, 87, of Sylvan Heights, Sylva, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2005, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center after an extended illness.
No services are planned at this time.
A native of England, he had lived in Jackson County since 2001. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. He was self-employed as a plasterer. He was a son of the late Joseph and Mary Stott Dunn.
He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Hilda Marshall Dunn, who died in 1979; and his second wife, Nora Potote Dunn, who died in 1998.
Surviving are two daughters, Mary Lambriola of Sylva and Shirley Ervin of Indiana; two brothers, Joseph Dunn of Florida and Peter Dunn of Australia; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mattie Price
Mattie Rigdon Price, 87, of Hominy Valley Retirement Center, Candler, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Groce Funeral Home, Lake Julian, with the Rev. David Glenn officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
She was born in Jackson County, but spent most of her life in Buncombe County. She retired from the Buncombe County Public School System as a nutritional specialist and was a member of Words of Life Tabernacle. She was a daughter of the late Ralph and Kathern Nicholson Rigdon.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, William Holmes Price, who died in March 2004; two sisters, Charlotte Parker and Rezell Mathis; and one brother, J.M. Rigdon.
Surviving are three daughters, Beverly Lorenz of Orlando, Fla., Martha Moses of Candler and Bettie Jean Allen of Mars Hill; two sons, William Holmes Price Jr. of Mills River and A.R. Price of Arden; one sister, Edna Corson of Tuckasegee; one brother, Alvin Rigdon of Tuckasegee; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hominy Valley Retirement Center, P.O. Box 1810, Candler, NC 28715.
An online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.grocefuneralhome.com.
Rick Long
Fredrick A. “Rick” Long, 53, of Cherokee’s Painttown community, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Rock Springs Baptist Church with the Rev. Jonathan Revis officiating. Burial was in Long Family Cemetery in Big Witch.
Pallbearers were Charles Hartline, Scott Taylor, Travis Lawson, Chris Maney and Calvin Lossie.
A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was a truck driver for Blue Wing Construction, a 1972 graduate of Cherokee High School and a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was a craftsman, did stone carvings and tied flies. He was an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He was a son of the late Wilbur and Paulene G. Long.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Kevin Long; one brother, Duke Long; paternal grandparents, Peter and Anna C. Long; and maternal grandparents, Goliath and Bessie B. George.
Surviving are four brothers, Greg Long, David Long, Gus George and George Long, all of Cherokee; and three sisters, Jessie Maney, Fern Saunooke and Lauren Long, all of Cherokee.
Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Lucile Morrow
Lucile Matheson Morrow, 93, of Murphy, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005, at Harris Regional Hospital.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home in Murphy with the Rev. Jerry Morrow and Dr. Chester Jones officiating. Graveside services were held at the Morrow Family Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Alex Starks, Michael Starks, Alvin Morrow, Stanley Morrow, Dwight Morrow, Lee Rainey and Glenn Crowe.
Honorary pallbearers were Jerry Palmer, Joe Palmer, Erwin Jones, Greg Bradshaw and Earl Morrow.
Born in Young Harris, Ga., she was raised in Andrews but lived most of her life in the Unaka/Violet communities of Cherokee County. She taught public school for over 37 years in Cherokee County and spent part of that time teaching more than 50 students at a time in a one-room schoolhouse. She was a member of Reid’s Chapel Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher until her health declined. She was a daughter of the late J.P. and Bertha Parker Matheson.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Willard Morrow; one son, Mike Morrow; two sisters, Emogene Matheson and one who died in infancy; and four brothers, Glen, Neal, Carlyle and Richard Matheson.
Surviving are one daughter, Patricia Palmer of Sylva; and two granddaughters.
Memorials may be made to Reid’s Chapel Methodist Church, c/o Carolyn Henry, 7055 Hwy. 294, Murphy, NC 28906; or Ensley’s Adult Care Center, c/o Craft Fund, 505 Racking Cove Rd., Sylva, NC 28779.
An online guest register is available at “Obituaries” at www.iviefuneralhome.com.
Opal Holden
Opal Davis Holden, 94, of Webster, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, in Greenwood, S.C., after a period of declining health.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Hamburg Baptist Church with the Rev. Matt Ledbetter officiating. The family is scheduled to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. Burial will be in Hamburg Cemetery.
She was born in Webster, and was a 1929 graduate of Cullowhee High School. She was a daughter of the late John Douglas Davis and Minnie Painter Davis. Her great-grandfather, the late E. Douglas Davis, was Jackson County’s first sheriff and served in the state legislature.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Alva Maxwell Holden; one son, Max E. Holden; one daughter, Janet Davis Borras; one brother, John D. Davis Jr.; and three sisters, Catherine Fullbright, Ruth McCoy and Joan Zimberg.
Surviving are two daughters, Katy Heindl of Greenwood and Lynn Noecker of Greensboro; one sister, Nancy Ennis of Richmond, Va.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hamburg Baptist Church.
Thelma Smith
Thelma Middleton Smith, 84, of Poquoson, Va., died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005.
She was born June 1, 1921, in Tuckasegee, and was a graduate of Western Carolina University. She received a master’s degree from the College of William and Mary and began her teaching career at Savannah School. She also taught at several other local schools before moving to Poquoson, where she was a guidance counselor and taught early American literature at the high school level. After her retirement she established Messick Chapel, where she taught Sunday school. She was the daughter of the late J. Ferry and Minnie Middleton.
She was also preceded in death by her husband, Eugene J. Smith, who died in 2002.
Surviving are two brothers, Walter and Orville Middleton; one son, Dr. Darian Smith; one daughter, Lynn Cassell; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the White Path Center, 205 Children’s Home Rd., Cherokee, NC 28719.
Brian Hodgins
James Brian Hodgins, 35, of Three Oaks Lane, Webster, died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday, Nov. 10) in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home with the Revs. Tim Dillard and Pervie Stines officiating. The family was scheduled to receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens.
A native of Rabun County, Ga., he had lived in Jackson County for most of his life. He was employed with Hodgins Logging. He was a son of James Harold and Irene Gibson Hodgins of Webster.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Howard and Maybelle Gibson.
Surviving in addition to his parents are one daughter, Felisha Hodgins of Sylva; paternal grandparents, Clarence and Arlene Hodgins of Elberton, Ga.; one sister, Paula Ashe of Webster; and one brother, Jeffery Carnes of Monroe.
Memorials may be made to Sunrise House of Worship, 474 Sunrise Park, Sylva, NC 28779.
Hod Wood
 Horace C. “Hod” Wood, 82, of Sedro-Woolley, Wash., died Friday, Nov. 4, 205, at the Life Care Center of Skagit Valley.
Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at Hamilton Cemetery.
He was born May 20, 1923, in Sylva, but was raised by his grandparents, Coleman and Judy Parker Mathis, in Hamilton, Wash. On Oct. 29, 1943, he married Leona Cathey and the couple lived in Punkin Center, Wash. He served in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant with the 740th Tank Battalion in Germany and Central Europe during World War II. He was awarded the bronze star medal, the victory medal and several others. After returning home he became a logger and hunter, working for several logging companies until he purchased Skagit loggers in 1983. He worked for the company until he retired, and enjoyed sports, hunting and coaching Little League baseball. He was a son of the late Howard C. Wood and Sallie B. Mathis.
He was also preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years; one brother, Odell Wood; and one half-brother, Lamar Wood.
Surviving are one son, Doug Wood of Punkin Center; one daughter, Sally Westman of Reno, Nev.; and four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Lemley Chapel of Sedro-Woolley was in charge of arrangements.
An online memorial and guestbook is available at www.lemleychapel.com.
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